Prevalence and causes of communication disorders- A retrospective study from northern Karnataka

Abstract

Introduction: Communication disorders affect an individual's social, emotional, cognitive and behavioral wellbeing. Estimating the prevalence rate and cause of communication disorders can assist in prevention, early identification, intervention, rehabilitation and counselling.Method:A Retrospective study was carried out by reviewing the clinical records of clients who visited JSS Institute of Speech and Hearing, Dharwad for last three years. Additionally, data of clients who attended free speech and hearing camp conducted at Bijapur was collected. A total of 2064 clients who were diagnosed as having communication disorders were included for the study.Result:It was found that among the clients diagnosed as having communication disorders, Hearing Impairment was found to be the most prevalent in both children (30.81%) and adults (32.1%). Further, specific language impairment (8.04%), Delayed Speech and Language secondary to Cerebral palsy (7.21%) and delayed speech and language secondary to Intellectual Disability (6.15%) were also a few of the communication disorders seen. Among the risk factors causing communication disorders, consanguineous marriage (20.78%) was found to be the prominent causative factor followed by positive family history of speech and language disorder (7.12%), delayed birth cry (7.07%) and neonatal seizure (5.86%) etc.Conclusion:The results of the present study revealed that communication disorders are highly prevalent in northern part of Karnataka. Hearing impairment was one of the most commonly seen conditions in both pediatric and adult population. History of parental consanguinity was noted in a large number of children with communication disorders.